Review: Children Of The Night

📍 Southwark Playhouse

🗓️ 13th March 2026

Set in late 90s Doncaster, Children of the Night is a nostalgic and heartfelt look at working-class life on the cusp of a new millennium.

Built from stories gathered from 30 local people, the play feels deeply rooted in its community. It's a love letter to 90s club culture and the music of the time, while also touching on the very real impact of the HIV crisis.

We follow Lindsay, her dad Terry (who's raising her on his own), and her best friend Jen as they navigate friendship, family, and growing up with the millennium fast approaching. Over the course of the 90-minute play, relationships shift and the characters grow as life begins to change around them.

The writing balances humour with heavier moments beautifully- this had me both laughing and crying.The set is simple but cleverly used to transport us between locations, from their family home to the nightclub everyone wants to be at: Karisma.

A strong debut from Danielle Phillips, brought to life by a brilliant small cast: Danielle Phillips as Lindsay, Gareth Radcliffe as Terry, and Charlotte Brown as Jen, with the voices of DJ Don and MC Danger provided by Luke Broughton and Conor O Hara.

A moving snapshot of youth, music, and community at the end of the 90s.

Children of the Night is running at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 4 April 2026.